It won't be long before spring sprouts from the ground and trees in Germany. High time to start thinking warm thoughts. These six exciting low mountain tours take you through perhaps Germany's most impressive landscapes, with plenty of trails along the way. They are perfect for a fun start to the mountain bike season - or the end. And of course always in between.
Black Forest National Park: Trail circuit in Baiersbronn
Cross the length of the Black Forest once: For Transalp aspirants alone, this would be top preparation for the bigger project in summer. Problem: Due to the two-metre rule in Baden-Württemberg, such a tour would contain practically no single trails. But no rule is without exception. In the central Black Forest, there are two regions that have largely freed themselves from this scourge and have even signposted exciting trails for mountain bikers around the national park: Sasbachwalden and Baiersbronn. If you skilfully link the cleared trails of these two towns together, you get a great tour from the Murg Valley through the Langenbach Valley, via Mummelsee and Hornisgrinde (1164 m), on to Darmstädter Hütte and back to Baiersbronn. A three-day highlight tour for all those who like to look into the distance after 700-metre climbs and also want to be rewarded with crisp trail descents.
Info Black Forest Tour
The tour around the Black Forest National Park from Baiersbronn to Sasbachwalden and back again via Obertal measures a total of 135 kilometres and 4000 metres in altitude. This could be completed in two days on an e-MTB, but it is worth planning a third day just to enjoy the scenery.
Driving technique
Some of the trails are really challenging. The T8 trail from the Walterhütte to Baiersbronn in particular has rocky and rooty sections (S2-S3). There are also a few tricky, steep uphill sections along the way.
"Three days of legal trails in the Black Forest! I would never have expected that in the land of cuckoo clocks!" Andreas Kern, EMTB tour author
Saarland: MTB trails near Saarbrücken
Angry Jens, Wellensittich, Links Rechts Runna, Ballern ohne Gewehr - since the licence agreement was signed by the State Secretary in February 2022, bike club members in Saarbrücken have been allowed to get creative. Not only in naming the trails, but also in furnishing the 16 new approved trails in the south of the Saarland state capital. Some of the trails have been laid around the trees with the finest flow, while others contain momentum boosters in the form of waves, drops and doubles. But there are also some very sporty variants, for which the international trail-building professionals from the Trek Trail Advocacy Programme were on hand to help with money, diggers, saws and nails. And if you're already visiting Saarland, it's also worth taking a road trip to the other top spots in this small federal state: St. Ingbert, Freisen, Neunkirchen and Perl in the border triangle with France and Luxembourg.
Info Saarbrücken
Scattered through the forest, south of the Hermann Neuberger Sports School, mountain bikers can now enjoy over 40 kilometres of trails. If you want to experience a good cross-section of all levels of difficulty, choose the Saarbrücken's Finest circuit. On this 23.5-kilometre route with 725 metres of elevation gain, the tour takes in six of the new trails.
"The exciting thing about the Saarland spots: Although they are so close to each other, each has its own character. Marathon riders will love St. Ingbert, I like the trails in Saarbrücken and Freisen." Wolfgang Watzke, EMTB photographer
Zittauer Gebirge: Trails like in Moab
Germany's smallest low mountain range presses up against the borders with Poland and the Czech Republic in the far east. The Zittau Mountains cover an area of just 50 by 25 kilometres. The highest peak is the Lausche at 793 metres. But as small as this Saxon gem is, it is full of surprises: In the middle of the forest, huge, bizarre rock towers sprout from the reddish sandstone soil, reminiscent of Moab in America. From the lookout rocks, you can always see the green, cone-shaped peaks, which are of volcanic origin.
But the best thing is that, fortunately, the Czech border runs right through the middle of this almost fairytale-like landscape. In the Czech Republic, the mountain range is called the Lusatian Mountains, which means that there is already a network of trails connecting the two countries that were once used by smugglers, and it is not uncommon for each tour to include 50 per cent natural trails. A quick stop over for a Czech lunch is also no problem. The ideal starting point for tours is Lake Olbersdorf, south of Zittau. The best place to stay is at the campsite on its shore, which is one of the cosiest in Germany.
Info Zittau Mountains & Lusatian Mountains
On the predominantly German side, you have to experience the O-See Challenge cross-triathlon course: 36.7 kilometres and 1081 metres in altitude with a 46 percent trail section. On the Czech side, the trail circuit over the highest peak Lausche (47 km/1024 metres in altitude) awaits. By the way: From Zittau, it is only 30 kilometres to the famous Pod Smrkem trail centre with its 100 km trail network!
Ruhr area and Rothaargebirge: Ruhrhöhenweg
From the idyllic Ruhr spring bubbling out of the rock in the Rothaargebirge mountains to the iconic bratwurst house in the centre of the Ruhrpott. However, you have to earn your portion of fries first, as the Ruhr has its source in the Rothaargebirge mountains near Winterberg. And while the river simply surrenders to gravity for 650 metres in altitude from up here to its mouth, the Ruhrhöhenweg doesn't miss a single mountain with a view. You should therefore plan four day rides for the XR-marked hiking trail. The first two stages climb up the Hochsauerland peaks and choose one or two adventure trails on the way down. However, most of the altitude and trail kilometres only add up on the third day in the Ruhr Valley between Syburg and Baldeneysee (73 km/1624 m elevation gain). There can't be much more to come now, you think to yourself on the fourth day. But the route still finds a few metres of elevation gain between monuments, mine dumps and motorway bridges before plunging into the green of Duisburg's city forest and eventually ending at the mouth of the Ruhr into the Rhine.
Info Ruhrhöhenweg with the MTB
From Winterberg in Hochsauerland via the stage towns of Arnsberg, Syburg and Werden/Baldeneysee to Duisburg in four stages. The route covers a total of 245 kilometres and 5278 metres in altitude and, apart from a few trail detours, runs along the Ruhrhöhenweg.
Driving technique
Some of the rooty forest trails require good bike control.
Thuringia: MTB trails in Saaleland
While people in the Thuringian Forest are still debating whether it really makes sense to invest in a trail centre, the locals who know the area are now romping around in the Saale Valley. Although there are fewer metres in altitude and depth here, the river between Ziegenrück and Bad Lobenstein has carved its way through many kilometres of winding, canyon-like slate rock. It goes without saying that the riverside trails then have to follow equally winding paths. 180-degree hairpin bends follow one after the other. Some places that are only a few hundred metres apart as the crow flies can only be reached via several kilometres of trail "detours" - past castles, viewing towers and over disused railway lines.
Info Thuringian Saaleland
The best starting point for the Saaleland tours is Saalburg at the Bleiloch dam. The Saale was dammed here and branches out like a fjord to form a lake. This makes the trails particularly spectacular as they wind along the banks of the lake and around Burgh Castle.
Driving technique
There are always a few roots in the woods, and sometimes tyres and chassis rattle over open shale rock. But the pine needle forest floor flow prevails. And to maintain the flow, you need smooth manoeuvrability.
Bavarian Forest: Pandurensteig
Always following the black sabre on a red background: the signposted Pandurensteig trail runs through the Bavarian Forest from Cham to Passau. Its speciality: the route leaves the most famous peaks and viewpoints of the low mountain range to the left. Why? Because in the 18th century, the Pandurs were like robbing Slavic mercenaries armed with sabres who preferred to stay in the undergrowth before striking. To this day, the 163-kilometre trail is less about people and more about wild nature. With gentle ups and downs, you will cover a lot of distance, marvelling at imposing rock faces and enjoying the interspersed root trails. Power mode will also be used. The climbs may not be long, but they can be tough.
Info Bavarian Forest: Pandurensteig
The section of the Pandurensteig between Cham and Passau, which is interesting for mountain bikers, is 163 kilometres long and has an elevation gain of 2818 metres. This is easily manageable in three days. The stage towns: Cham, Viechtach, Spiegelau and Passau. Return journey by train: three hours.
Driving technique
The trails are mostly easy to ride, apart from a few root passages that can be slippery when wet. More challenging are a few steep, rooty uphills, for which you always have to find the right gear ratio.
"You really have to manage your energy well on this historic route through the Bavarian Forest. Over the 163 kilometres, you pass just five places where there are power sockets for your battery, a supermarket and accommodation." Stefan Loibl, Editor-in-Chief EMTB-Online
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
